(Hello Africa) African experts spot potential of Juncao technology to boost livelihoods, sustainable agriculture
KIGALI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- African agricultural experts are looking to harness Juncao technology, a Chinese innovation used in mushroom cultivation and livestock feed, to improve livelihoods and increase incomes in rural communities across the continent.
"Juncao technology offers far more than mushroom cultivation; it is a comprehensive innovation having crop, livestock production, environmental protection, livelihood nutrition and economic empowerment," said Telesphore Ndabamenye, director general of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board.
He made the remark while attending the closing ceremony of a Juncao technology workshop held on Wednesday in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
Stressing the importance of Juncao technology in advancing agricultural transformation, Ndabamenye said the participation of trainees from diverse economies highlighted the broad applicability of the technology, particularly in addressing the socioeconomic challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
"Juncao technology is regarded in Rwanda as a vital contributor to the country's inclusive agriculture transformation. It supports our national vision of a professionalized and commercialized farming sector with active participation of both men and women as stated under Rwanda's vision 2050," he said.
He reaffirmed Rwanda's commitment to integrating Juncao technology into the country's strategy for food and nutrition security, environmental sustainability, and economic development, in full alignment with continental and global development agendas.
Since Juncao was first introduced to Rwanda in 2006, more than 35,000 local farmers have received training, and over 4,000 households, along with 50 companies and cooperatives, have been supported in engaging in Juncao-related activities.
The July 16-23 Juncao workshop was held at the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center, co-hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, and China's Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.
As part of the training, participants visited several projects in Huye and Nyanza, gained hands-on experience, and deepened their understanding of Juncao technology's potential.
Innocent Shayamano, chief agriculture extension specialist and project coordinator from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, said the workshop covered critical areas such as cultivation management of Juncao grass, including all its agronomic aspects.
"This course was relevant and significant for our country. We have seen the opportunities in embracing Juncao technology in terms of using Juncao grass as a substitute for livestock feed. This technology came to transform livelihoods and ensure that rural communities have enough income," he said.
Chinese Juncao expert Lin Hui said the participants' active engagement, thoughtful questions, and enthusiasm for applying the acquired knowledge were truly inspiring.
According to Lin, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University of China has organized 388 training courses over the years, benefiting more than 16,000 people worldwide.
According to Li Jiahui, a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, the technology has benefited over 100 countries since 2001, helping families lift themselves out of poverty and achieve prosperity.
"It has been proven that Juncao is not merely a technology but a grass of wealth and a grass of happiness. China takes great pride in sharing the technology as part of its commitment to South-South cooperation," Li added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada News.Net
an hour ago
- Canada News.Net
Economic Watch: Trump's sweeping new tariffs spark extensive criticism
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on 69 trading partners, sparking global criticism over economic disruption and sovereignty concerns. WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that further modified tariff rates with 69 trading partners, drawing criticism across the world. The order, set to be implemented on Aug. 7, imposes "additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners," with rates ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent. SWEEPING TARIFFS Under the new executive order, the "universal" tariff for goods entering the United States will remain at 10 percent, the same rate implemented on April 2. However, the 10-percent rate will only apply to countries with which the United States has a trade surplus, CNN reported, citing a senior official. For countries with which the United States has a trade deficit, a 15-percent rate will serve as the new tariff floor. Still, for more than a dozen other countries, the tariff rates are higher than 15 percent, either because they agreed to a trade framework with the United States or because Trump sent their leaders a letter requiring a higher tariff, it added. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order increasing the tariff on Canada from 25 percent to 35 percent, with the higher tariff taking effect on Aug. 1. Goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will continue to remain exempt from the new tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade the 35-percent tariff will be subject, instead, to a transshipment tariff of 40 percent. On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order implementing an additional 40-percent tariff on Brazilian goods, bringing the total tariff amount to 50 percent. On the same day, Trump announced that Washington had reached a "full and complete" trade deal with South Korea, setting 15-percent tariffs on its exports. South Korea has also agreed to invest 350 billion U.S. dollars in projects "owned and controlled by the United States," and selected by himself, Trump said. Trump said on Wednesday that the United States would impose a 25-percent tariff on imports from India, starting on Aug. 1. On July 27, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that they had reached a trade deal under which the United States would impose a baseline tariff of 15 percent on EU goods. The deal allows the United States to impose a broad 15-percent tariff on EU goods while securing zero-tariff access for a range of strategic American exports. In contrast, the EU has pledged to purchase 750 billion U.S. dollars' worth of American energy and commit an additional 600 billion U.S. dollars in investments in the United States. WIDE CRITICISM The higher tariffs continue Trump's reversal of the decades of globalization that made America's massive services economy the envy of the world but contributed to its long decline in manufacturing, CNN commented. "Our businesses ... need some degree of certainty, and all they're getting is chaos and inflation. So the Trump tariff trade war is a trade war on the American people. We've seen this week the chaos and uncertainty," said Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic leader. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on Friday that his government is disappointed by Trump's decision to increase the tariff on Canadian goods to 35 percent. According to the statement, the sectors of lumber, steel, aluminum and automobiles are heavily impacted by U.S. duties and tariffs. The Canadian government will act to protect Canadian jobs, invest in industrial competitiveness, buy Canadian and diversify export markets, said Carney. Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said his government will soon announce a response plan focused on providing financing assistance, deferring tax payments, accelerating export tax refunds, and reactivating labor protection policies. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, slammed the U.S.-EU deal as "significantly imbalanced." In a statement following the announcement of the agreement, he said that "concessions have been made that are difficult to bear." The trade agreement is "a political, economic and moral fiasco," Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party in the French parliament, said in an X post. "Hundreds of billions of euros of gas, as well as weapons, will have to be imported each year from the United States. This is a complete capitulation for French industry, and for our energy and military sovereignty," she said. "I don't think Trump wants a trade deal. He wants these countries to surrender their economic sovereignty," said Sizo Nkala, senior research fellow at the Center for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg. "More than anything, the tariff rates represent an assault on and a violation of a rules-based multilateral trading system administered by the World Trade Organization," Nkala said.
Canada News.Net
an hour ago
- Canada News.Net
Trump cites new tariffs on India for buying Russian oil
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump declared on July 30 that his administration will impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from India, along with an additional levy targeting the country's continued purchases of Russian oil. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump acknowledged India as "a friend," but criticized what he called "excessively high" Indian tariffs on American exports. In justifying the penalties, Trump pointed to India's ongoing defense and energy ties with Russia. He argued that India's purchases of Russian military hardware and crude oil were indirectly sustaining Moscow's war in Ukraine. "If we are serious about ending the war, we must stop enabling it," Trump said, announcing the start of what he called a "Russia-related penalty" tariff, set to take effect on August 1. The move is part of a broader overhaul of Trump's trade policy, which includes renegotiated frameworks with the European Union, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Trump said those deals would open new markets for American products while giving the U.S. the authority to raise import taxes to support domestic industries and reduce the federal deficit, which has grown following his administration's income tax cuts. Trump has long used tariffs as leverage to reshape global trade dynamics. While supporters argue the strategy has helped U.S. manufacturing, critics, including many economists, warn that rising import costs often hit American consumers and businesses, fueling inflation and dampening economic growth. India, now the world's most populous nation, is seen as a key partner in Washington's long-term strategy to counterbalance China's global influence. However, India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine war and has not joined Western sanctions against Russia. Its energy deals with Moscow, including purchases of discounted Russian crude, have drawn repeated concern from U.S. officials. During a February meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump expressed optimism about a budding energy partnership, claiming that India had agreed to buy American oil and liquefied natural gas. Yet on the flight back from a recent visit to Scotland, Trump told reporters that a comprehensive U.S.-India trade agreement remained unfinished. When asked whether a 25 percent tariff was imminent, he replied cryptically, "We're going to see." With the new tariff measures set to launch in August, India now joins a growing list of U.S. trading partners facing heightened duties under Trump's revised trade regime — a campaign he says is aimed at protecting American jobs and correcting global imbalances.
National Observer
11 hours ago
- National Observer
Freeland tells MPs she is 'dismayed' by BC Ferries' decision buy Chinese ships
Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland told MPs Friday she was "dismayed" by BC Ferries' decision to purchase four new electric-diesel ships from a Chinese shipbuilder using a $1 billion federal loan — but did not call for the loan's cancellation. The House of Commons transport committee launched a study of the Canada Infrastructure Bank loan on Friday. BC Ferries announced in June that it had hired China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to build the new ships after a five-year procurement process that did not include a Canadian bid. The Canada Infrastructure Bank contributed a $1 billion loan to the deal and said in June that the new ferries "wouldn't likely be purchased" without this financing. In her opening remarks before the committee Friday, Freeland said she was troubled by the planned purchase and she believes in supporting Canadian jobs. She said she has sent 71 letters directing all organizations under the Transport Canada umbrella to prioritize Canadian content in their major procurements where feasible — particularly Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. When Canadian options aren't available, she said, the preferred option is to buy from countries with trade deals that include reciprocal procurement agreements. Dan Albas, Conservative transport critic and committee co-chair, requested the committee study of the purchase and has asked why $1 billion in public funds was earmarked to finance overseas shipbuilding in the middle of a trade war with the U.S. Freeland said Transport Canada will soon be convening a meeting with provinces and territories, ferry owners and operators, shipyards, labour representatives and the steel industry. She said she's also assembling a second meeting with major rail operators. Freeland did not directly respond when MPs asked her whether the government would push for the cancellation of the loan. She said she agrees that this is a moment of crisis for the steel and aluminum sectors and they need the government's support. The Canada Infrastructure Bank is accountable to Parliament through Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, who also testified at the meeting. In his opening remarks, Robertson told committee members that the shipbuilder was chosen by BC Ferries, not the federal government or the Canada Infrastructure Bank. He said BC Ferries conducted its own global procurement process that didn't yield bids from Canadian shipyards. Robertson said he's disappointed by BC Ferries' decision and wants to see more Canadian-built vessels and more opportunities for domestic industry to participate in major infrastructure projects. He also called the purchase a "critical" investment and said that "these ferries need to get built." Robertson assured MPs that there will be Canadian jobs associated with the maintenance of the ferries and at terminals. Robertson said the government is looking closely at how it can better align its industrial policy, procurement tools and investment incentives to "support and scale up Canadian capacity in important sectors like shipbuilding." He said the Canada Infrastructure Bank is independent of government and that most of the projects it has funded involve Canadian infrastructure and businesses. BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez told the committee that it received six compliant bids to replace its four oldest ships, all from foreign countries. While two Canadian shipyards pre-qualified for the competition, he said, neither chose to formally submit a proposal. The organization chose the proposal that offered the best combination of value, quality, delivery, speed and protections for customers, Jimenez said. "This was a choice between a foreign bid or no new ferries," Jimenez said, adding that BC Ferries spoke with officials from the federal transportation department in April about the fact that the procurement was coming to a close. Jimenez said that if the company had gone with another foreign proposal, it would have cost up to an extra $1.2 billion. Even if there had been a Canadian bid, he said, "it too would have cost more and those ships would have taken up to a decade longer." "British Columbians desperately need safe, affordable, reliable new ships to keep them and our economy moving. Our decisions have saved our customers and British Columbians from unaffordable, unnecessary fare increases," he said. Throughout the build, Jimenez said, BC Ferries will have a team of Canadian experts on site in China to ensure high standards of quality and security. Ehren Cory, CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, told MPs that the Crown corporation played no role in BC Ferries' procurement decision. He said it's not the bank's role to tell project partners where they should buy their components. Cory said that regardless of where BC Ferries gets its vessels, the benefits of the Canada Infrastructure Bank's financing go directly to service users "by keeping fares more affordable and ensuring new, reliable, cleaner ships are in service as soon as possible." Jeff Groot, executive director of communications for BC Ferries, has said the company signed the loan with the bank before the contract with the Chinese shipyard was finalized. Freeland sent her B.C. counterpart, Mike Farnworth, a letter in June saying she was disappointed that BC Ferries would choose a Chinese state-owned shipyard "in the current geopolitical context," and asking him to confirm that no federal funding would be diverted to purchase the ferries. Before Friday's meeting began, Bloc MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval said he'd like to see an apology from the government and from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. He said it's "unacceptable" and "problematic" that the government plans to invest in foreign infrastructure when Canada's steel industry is facing tariffs from the United States. The new vessels are expected to join the BC Ferries fleet between 2029 and 2031. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025.
